Essex County Residents Urged to Exercise Caution as Ontario Reopens

Essex County residents are being urged to continue following health protocols to keep COVID-19 at bay as Ontario reopens further on Friday.

Residents are to be commended for getting their COVID-19 vaccines and following public health directives to reduce case numbers, but Windsor-Essex County Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed is urging caution as the province enters Step 3 of its reopening.

While the region is prepared for the relaxation of restrictions, there is still the risk that a COVID-19 variant could spread quickly, he warned.

“The transmission of the Delta variant has already led to a significant number of cases in the Waterloo Region and the Grey-Bruce region,” said Ahmed, noting that getting fully vaccinated is the best protection for everyone who is eligible.

There are residents who have not been able to get vaccinated and remain vulnerable to severe illness and even death, he pointed out.

“Whatever activities you plan to do, make sure you are thinking about people who can’t get the vaccine and children who are unvaccinated,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed recommends limiting gatherings to those who are fully vaccinated. Start by getting together with family and close friends whose vaccination status and social circles you know, he said.

He is encouraging caution when attending gatherings where the vaccination status of others is not known.

“Any time you’re gathering with people, who you’re not sure about their vaccination status or about their health status, there will continue to be an ongoing risk,” Ahmed said.

“So, make sure when you are in large gatherings, especially indoors with people that you don’t know, you have to be mindful of the risks that are involved and able to take all the precautions you need to do – especially get yourself vaccinated, make sure that you are maintaining your physical distancing, and wear a mask as appropriate and as directed based on the environment you have.”

Wearing face masks in indoor public settings and physical distancing requirements are still in place, even while Step 3 allows for larger gatherings and increases the number of people permitted to gather indoors.

“It’s not that the pandemic is over. It’s not. It’s not that the risk is over. It’s not,” Ahmed said, adding we “are in a great spot” and want to stay there.